In an exclusive interview with HELLO! back in October 2017, Princess Beatrice revealed that the two most important women in her life are her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York and her grandmother the Queen. "I have two role models, my mother and my grandmother," she told HELLO! "They are both formidable women. I think having female role models is incredibly important and I am very lucky that I happen to be related to these two incredible women."
In the interview, which took place in Toronto, Canada, during the Invictus Games organised by her cousin Prince Harry, the seventh in line to the throne told us: "I find my grandmother inspiring every day because her overwhelming sense of duty is linked with an overwhelming curiosity. Every day she’s curious to learn something new, to do something new, and I think that at 91 years old, she goes out into the community with a genuine curiosity as to how she can be a force for good in the world."
Beatrice added: "She also looks for ways in which she can inspire communities and I admire the way that she works so hard. Plus, she has to set aside time to dedicate to so many different causes. I’ve got 30 emails in my in-box. She doesn’t necessarily have email, but she’s got red box after red box. I admire her dedication greatly.”
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But it is her and sister Princess Eugenie’s mother, the Duchess of York, for whom Beatrice reserves the most praise. Describing her mother Sarah as “probably one of the most misunderstood women in the world”, she says that over the years her mother has taught her: “Anything is possible, no matter where you think the world is going to put you next. Joy is still coming around the corner and the joy will be there.
“We’ve been through some incredibly stressful times together as a family and every single minute she created joy. I am so lucky that I get to learn from her every single day. I’m inspired by her ability to give, even when she’s going through something hard.” She adds: “Her grandmother always said, ‘When you feel bad about yourself, go out there and do something for somebody else.’ That’s an incredible motto that my family has always lived by. My mother is just remarkable.”
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“She’s incredibly real and she’s my best friend,” agrees Beatrice. “We talk about everything. Nothing is off the table. When I go on stage, trying to think about how I’m going to make a speech, I [can hear my] mum’s voice in my head going, ‘Come on! Off we go!’”
However, when it comes to relationships, Beatrice, who split up from her boyfriend Dave Clark in 2016, turns to her "wonderful godmother" Lady de Rothschild. Beatrice said: “She inspires me a lot because she’s a phenomenal business leader, but she is somebody that gives the most incredible life advice. From every minute of what it’s like to be a woman in the workplace to great dating advice. I think we all need dating advice… Oh gosh, yes!”
The Duchess of York's philanthropy has also had a big impact on Beatrice, who is patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust and co-founded charity Big Change with her friends Sam and Holly Branson in 2010. She also supports the WE charity, a youth empowerment movement based in Canada.
A lot of the causes she supports, revealed Beatrice, are child-focused. “I think giving young people the tools to be listened to and realise that they can spread the word to make change is very powerful. I think that’s the best course of action for how you can really see longstanding sustainable change. “I think a lot of the patronages I’ve been working with now are mostly [for children] because I feel like a child,” she laughs. “I feel like that’s where my head lives.”
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